A 47-year-old father who got into a confrontation with a teenage girl at his son’s high school got a lesson from the court Tuesday about fighting his child’s battles.

David Guy pleaded guilty in Ontario Court of Justice to assault and was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for one year.

During May and June, Guy’s 17-year-old son had been exchanging text messages with a Kenner Collegiate schoolmate, court heard.

But when the girl failed to respond to his romantic overtures, the boy began calling her names, court heard.

When the girl confronted the 17-year-old boy, he called his father, who went to the school and began calling on the girl and a group of teens, telling them he would fight anyone who wanted to take him on, court heard.

During the clash, Guy spit in the direction of the girl before bumping into her and knocking her to the ground, court heard.

“Mr. Guy, many parents learn early on that it’s very difficult to fight the battles for your children,” Morgan said. “Here, you’re taking the effort to come down to your son’s high school to confront a girl. It was highly inappropriate behaviour.”